FareFuturo

FareFuturo, also known as FF, is an Italian political foundation and right-wing think tank whose name can be translated as “MakeFuture.” It was created in 2007 by Gianfranco Fini, then leader of the National Alliance, and Adolfo Urso, a member of parliament from the same party. The foundation was intended to provide an intellectual and cultural framework for renewing the Italian right rather than to serve simply as a direct successor to National Alliance. Its project was presented as European in orientation, liberal-conservative in outlook and secular in tone. The foundation emerged after the defeat of the centre-right House of Freedoms coalition in the 2006 Italian general election. Its founders argued that the Italian right needed a broader cultural base, a more modern political language and stronger links with the mainstream centre-right of other European countries. FareFuturo’s reference points included Nicolas Sarkozy’s Union for a Popular Movement, David Cameron’s Conservative Party and José María Aznar’s Partido Popular. Aznar attended the foundation’s inaugural meeting and supported the idea that National Alliance should move closer to the European People’s Party family. FareFuturo was publicly launched at a February 2007 convention that brought together more than one hundred figures from culture, economics, academia, entertainment and public life. It was formally founded in Rome on 15 May 2007. The founding network included figures such as former Constitutional Court president Annibale Marini, lawyer and television personality Tina Lagostena Bassi, Milan Polytechnic rector Giovanni Azzone, sociologist Sabino Acquaviva, actor Luca Barbareschi, television presenter Rita Dalla Chiesa and opera singer Cecilia Gasdia. The broad composition of the founding event reflected the foundation’s ambition to influence public debate beyond party structures. The organisation combined conferences, political analysis, cultural discussion and publishing. Its web magazine became a visible part of its public profile. In 2009, a contribution by political analyst Sofia Ventura concerning the role of television showgirls, or “veline,” in Italian politics generated controversy. The text was widely understood as a criticism of the relationship between celebrity culture and political power during Silvio Berlusconi’s premiership, and it provoked disagreement within the centre-right environment in which FareFuturo operated. In November of that year, FareFuturo began a close cooperation with FAES, the foundation associated with former Spanish prime minister José María Aznar. The foundation became increasingly identified with Gianfranco Fini’s challenge to Berlusconi inside The People of Freedom party. During the internal conflict that intensified in 2010, FareFuturo generally supported the Fini-aligned current, commonly referred to as the Finiani. This political positioning made the foundation part of a broader debate over whether the Italian centre-right should remain organised around Berlusconi or develop a more institutional, European and autonomous conservative identity. After the Finiani left The People of Freedom and moved toward the creation of Future and Freedom in 2011, FareFuturo entered a period of organisational and political uncertainty. Many members departed in March 2011, and the foundation’s web magazine was closed. Fini gave up the presidency in favour of Urso. Urso subsequently distanced the foundation from Fini’s centrist coalition-building project and argued for a wider “popular constituent” capable of creating a conservative party representing the European People’s Party tradition in Italy. He later established the FareItalia foundation in April 2011. FareItalia subsequently became associated with Brothers of Italy in 2013, but it was a separate organisation from FareFuturo. FareFuturo is therefore best understood as a political-intellectual initiative rather than a conventional consumer brand or commercial company. Its significance lies in its attempt to modernise and Europeanise parts of the Italian right, its role in the internal debates surrounding Gianfranco Fini, and its use of cultural and policy discussion to shape political identity. Publicly available reference material does not establish a clear current operating structure, leadership team or commercial activity.

FareFuturo was conceived in the aftermath of the centre-right’s defeat in the 2006 Italian election. Gianfranco Fini, leader of National Alliance, and Adolfo Urso sought to create an intellectual platform capable of enlarging and updating the culture of the Italian right. Rather than presenting the foundation as a replacement party, its promoters described it as a forum for cultural and political renewal. The intended model was a European centre-right combining conservative values with liberal institutions, secular public life and a more modern political style. The initiative was introduced at a February 2007 convention attended by 105 figures from culture, economics and the arts. It was formally founded in Rome on 15 May 2007. José María Aznar attended the founding meeting and advocated a closer relationship between National Alliance and the European People’s Party. In September 2007, FareFuturo attended a meeting of the Centre for European Studies, the EPP’s think tank, strengthening the foundation’s international and European profile. FareFuturo operated as a platform for conferences, political commentary and public intellectual discussion. Its web magazine gave it a regular publishing presence. The publication became controversial in April 2009 after Sofia Ventura wrote about television showgirls and their involvement in Italian politics. The article was interpreted by many observers as a challenge to the role of celebrity and television culture in Berlusconi-era politics. It generated criticism from parts of the political right and exposed the tensions between FareFuturo’s stated aspiration to modernise conservatism and the political practices of its allies. In November 2009, FareFuturo began a close cooperation with FAES, the foundation linked to Aznar. This cooperation reflected its effort to connect Italian political debate with conservative institutions elsewhere in Europe. At the same time, the foundation became more directly involved in the internal conflict within The People of Freedom. During the 2010 confrontation between Berlusconi and Fini, FareFuturo sided with the Finiani. Its activity consequently became associated with the attempt to establish a more autonomous and institutionally oriented current within the Italian centre-right. The split became decisive in 2011, when Fini-aligned politicians left The People of Freedom and established Future and Freedom. FareFuturo suffered significant departures in March, and its web magazine closed. Fini then resigned the presidency, which passed to Urso. Urso did not follow Fini into his increasingly centrist coalition-building strategy. Instead, he argued for distance from the competing centre-right parties and promoted a “popular constituent” intended to create a conservative force with a European People’s Party identity in Italy. In April 2011, Urso established FareItalia to advance that political project. FareItalia was later connected with Brothers of Italy in 2013. This development marked the movement of several people and ideas associated with the FareFuturo environment into new political structures, but FareItalia remained distinct from FareFuturo. In January 2018, Urso was selected as a Brothers of Italy candidate for the Chamber of Deputies ahead of that year’s election. The available reference material does not provide a complete account of FareFuturo’s subsequent activities, governance or current institutional status. Its documented historical importance rests on its role as a think tank and foundation seeking to reshape the Italian right through European networking, cultural intervention and political debate, especially during the transition from National Alliance and The People of Freedom toward later conservative formations.

• 2011

  Leadership transition and publication closure

  [1]FareFuturoen.wikipedia.org

  Following member departures and the closure of its web magazine, Gianfranco Fini left the presidency and Adolfo Urso became president.

• 2011

  Creation of FareItalia

  [1]FareFuturoen.wikipedia.org

  Adolfo Urso created the separate FareItalia foundation to represent his proposal for a new conservative political force in Italy.

• 2009

  FAES cooperation

  [1]FareFuturoen.wikipedia.org

  FareFuturo began a substantial cooperation with FAES, the foundation associated with José María Aznar.

• 2007

  Public launch

  [1]FareFuturoen.wikipedia.org

  FareFuturo was introduced at a February convention convened by Gianfranco Fini and Adolfo Urso, bringing together 105 participants from public life, culture, economics and the arts.

• 2007

  Formal establishment in Rome

  [1]FareFuturoen.wikipedia.org

  The foundation was formally established on 15 May in Rome, with José María Aznar attending the founding meeting.

• 2007

  European think-tank engagement

  [1]FareFuturoen.wikipedia.org

  FareFuturo attended a meeting of the Centre for European Studies, the think tank of the European People’s Party.

A liberal-conservative, secular and European-oriented Italian political foundation seeking to broaden and modernise the culture of the right through research, public debate and policy discussion.

• Political foundation · 2007

  FareFuturo foundation

  The organisation’s core offering was a political and cultural forum rather than a commercial product. It sought to develop policy ideas, convene public figures and promote a liberal-conservative, secular and European perspective on the Italian right.

• Political publishing

  FareFuturo web magazine

  The web magazine published political commentary and analysis and became the foundation’s most visible publishing channel. It was also the source of the 2009 article on television showgirls in politics that triggered controversy. The magazine was closed in 2011 after organisational departures.

• 2009

  Controversy over the showgirls-in-politics article

  An article by Sofia Ventura published by FareFuturo’s web magazine discussing the role of television showgirls in Italian politics generated criticism inside and outside the political environment associated with the foundation. The controversy was linked to wider arguments about Silvio Berlusconi’s political style and the influence of television celebrity.

  Source

Read more

• 2011

  Urso pursues a separate conservative constituentStrategy

  Background

  After Fini moved toward a centrist coalition and FareFuturo changed presidents, Adolfo Urso disagreed with Fini’s political direction.

  Action taken

  Urso advocated distance from the competing centre-right parties and promoted the idea of a conservative force representing the European People’s Party tradition in Italy.

  Aftermath

  Urso created the separate FareItalia foundation in April 2011, which later became associated with Brothers of Italy.

  Source

• 2010

  Support the Finiani during the People of Freedom disputeStrategy

  Background

  Relations between Silvio Berlusconi and Gianfranco Fini deteriorated within The People of Freedom.

  Action taken

  FareFuturo sided with Fini’s faction and supported the effort to establish a more autonomous liberal-conservative current.

  Aftermath

  The positioning tied the foundation more closely to the later creation of Future and Freedom and contributed to organisational disruption in 2011.

  Source

• 2007

  Adopt a European liberal-conservative missionStrategy

  Background

  The founders wanted to renew the Italian right after the 2006 electoral defeat without creating a direct replacement for National Alliance.

  Action taken

  FareFuturo was positioned as a cultural and policy foundation modelled in part on major European centre-right traditions.

  Aftermath

  The foundation developed links with European conservative institutions and became a platform for debate about the future of the Italian right.

  Source

1. 1FareFuturoen.wikipedia.org
2. 2FareFuturo official websitefarefuturofondazione.it